SeniorNet Napier Newsletter ( month and year)

From the President

Isn't it wonderful to feel the weather improving and to see the days lengthening?
It will soon be time to get the BBQ up and running again.
In less than 2 weeks time we shall be starting the last learning session of the year but the wonderful thing is that it will be in our new accommodation.

We have had a mild rebuke from the Church because, we are told that some of our members have ignored the "KEEP OUT" signs on their building site and walked right through it. Those signs are there for our protection. When visiting the new centre please ensure that you only use the Puketapu Road entrance.

The last few weeks have been occupied with making the last minute arrangements to transfer computers, tables, files and all the other bits of equipment that go to make up an organisation such as ours. This has now been completed ready for the opening on 1st November.

In our last newsletter we asked for volunteers to help keep the learning centre clean and tidy. If sufficient people volunteer you will only be required for a short time each month and your help will be much appreciated. Alan Overington would much appreciate a call from you on 845 4188

Before the next session starts we shall be holding a meeting of Tutors & Assistants on Thursday, 30th October at 2.00pm to acquaint them with the new premises and learn where all the important switches, buttons and plugs are located not least of which will be the new security system. At the same time we shall allocate keys to those who need them and distribute the manuals to the Tutors for the next session.

As we are anxious to show off our new accommodation we are going to hold an 'Open Day' on Saturday, 1st November from 2.00pm until 4.00pm to which all our members and their partners are cordially invited so make a note of it in your diary, now, so you don't forget.
To help you to find us we have printed a map and a bit of history on one of the other pages so there is no excuse for getting lost.

Speaking of diaries I bought what looked like a very smart, faux leather bound, 2009 diary a couple of weeks ago from the $2 Shop. I had some difficulty with it trying to reconcile some dates in March until I found it had called 2009 a leap year including 29th February so from 28th February all the dates are wrong. Guess where it was printed.

We have now set the date for our AGM as Tuesday, 24th March 2009. We'll keep reminding you nearer the time.

As Christmas is drawing near we are planning a Christmas Lunch for members and their partners to be held at Napier RSA on Thursday, 4th December at 12.00noon. We shall have a room to ourselves and the meal will be a Smorgasbord including hot ham.
Please make a note of this in your diaries. We shall be giving you another reminder in the November Newsletter.

After many months of negotiation and hard work by a dedicated team of volunteers we are finally ready to move into our new learning centre. This is located in the Church grounds of All Saints Church around the corner of Church Road & Puketapu Road in Taradale.
Originally called 'St.Peter's Hall' it was located adjacent to the Church Office and "Drop In' centre. When the Church decided to expand their community centre the Hall became surplus to their needs and at that time the SeniorNet was looking for alternative premises.
Following negotiations with the Vestry, SeniorNet bought the Hall and arranged to have it relocated in another part of the Church grounds. This in itself was was a fascinating experience for those of us who watched it happen. The skill and precision of the driver and the trailer was awe inspiring with such a huge piece of equipment able to move and manoeuvre within such small margins. The mission was largely accomplished by lunch time on the same day.
The hall was originally built in 1951 on land donated to the church in Avenue Road and with later additions doubled in size. There it remained until 1971 when it was moved to the All Saints site on the corner of Church Road and Puketapu Road where it remained for the next 36 years serving as a community centre.
The hall had its final move in July this year when it was relocated next to the vicarage in the church grounds. Since then it has been hard work constructing new doors, a ramp, disability toilet, painting and making computer benches.
At last it is all finished all the computers and contents of our present learning centre were moved in on 20th October in readiness for the final session of the year starting on 3rd November.

between 2.00pm and 4.00pm
We hope you will all come along to see
what has been achieved and
Bring your Partners and Friends.

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Howard Cole, one of our most experienced tutors, on the 16th October 2008.
He had worked with computers from early days prior to joining our tutoring staff and understood the technical side of how computers operated as well as being very knowledgeable regarding the computer programmes that are used in our SeniorNet courses.
One of his main interests was the subject of Genealogy.
Howard will be sadly missed by our committee, tutoring staff and members who wish to express their condolences, on this sad occasion, to Howard's family and friends.

Mobile Emergency Number
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be an emergency tool for survival.The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112.
If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even I the keypad is locked. Try it.
Thanks to Motueka SeniorNet